The Jewish Association for Community Living is very excited to report that our staff and our older clients are currently in the process of getting vaccinated for COVID-19. We believe our clients are "Community Active...Community Strong." In pre-COVID times, our clients were out and about doing all kinds of activities. And today, as we face the pandemic and continue to follow CDC guidelines, we're socializing and connecting in a whole new way. JCL continues to find creative methods to engage our clients, including birthday drive-by parades, outdoor ice cream truck days, virtual programs, mini-craft programs, home spa days, aerobic exercise classes, cookie baking contests, and virtual music therapy. To learn more about JCL, click here.

On Saturday, March 13 at 8 p.m., Mitzvah Mamas invites all Jewish women to take time out for our lay-led women's circle over Zoom. In about an hour, we learn about each other, catch up, explore a Jewish value, and leave spiritually and socially enriched. We begin promptly at 8 p.m., but the Zoom room opens early for schmoozing. Bring a candle and a sweet-smelling item to mark havdalah with us - and please plan to share an act of kindness done by or for you during the past month. This month's shomeret (hostess) is Meredith Peskoff Smith, an officer with Jewish Association for Community Living; she'll give us an insider's view of how JCL's group homes are thriving during COVID-19. For details or the Zoom link, contact Mindy Glickman at MitzvahMamas@gmail.com or 917.698.7952. And don't forget to ask about our other Rosh Chodesh gatherings, pop-up road trips, and the next free trip to Israel for moms! You can also stay connected via our Facebook group.

Join Beth Sholom B'nai Israel for the last two sessions of our virtual walking tour of Israel with Jewish educator and licensed tour guide Uri Feinberg! Both sessions will uncover a different layer of Israeli society and history. On March 14 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., we'll explore "The Second Temple: Pilgrims & Sects." Who were we 2000 years ago, what did we believe, where did we live, why did it end, and why wasn't that the end? Then, on March 21 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m., Uri will share "Hidden Gems," an unforgettable look at new and old places from a fresh standpoint. Click here for details and registration.

On Sunday, March 14 from 4 to 5 p.m., join Congregation Kol Haverim's “CKH Foodies” — along with food writer and editor Beth Hillson — for “Passover Palooza.” We’ll dish about brisket, charoset, kugel, desserts, and more. And you won’t want to miss the matzo bake-off... it even includes gluten-free variations! Recipes will be provided and available on our website; we also invite you to share your favorite brisket and dessert recipes! The class is free; voluntary donations to support our programs are appreciated. Click here to reserve your space. Bon appétit!

Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford is proud to celebrate its 50th anniversary! The festivities kick off with a virtual gala on Sunday, March 14 from 8 to 9 p.m. featuring comedian Joel Chasnoff, distinguished speakers, and more. Click here for information and tickets. Questions? Contact Sherri Pliskin, director of development, at 860.561.0700.

Camp Laurelwood, Connecticut’s premier Jewish coed overnight summer camp, is open for summer 2021! Click here to enroll today. First-time camper discounts are available. If you have questions or would like to schedule a personal tour of our camp, contact us at 203.421.3736 or info@camplaurelwood.org.

Hartford Seminary offers a one-year Master of Arts in International Peacebuilding (MAP) that develops your capacity to build vibrant, healthy inter- and intra-religious relationships. Full scholarships are available to international students and U.S. citizens. The deadline for scholarship applications is March 15 for U.S. citizens. The MAP scholarship includes tuition, housing, a modest living stipend, books (mainly through our on-campus library and digital library subscriptions), and contributions toward health insurance. Click here for more information or email Phoebe Milliken, faculty associate in International Peacebuilding, at pmilliken@hartsem.edu.

The rise of antisemitism on college campuses is a major concern locally and across the country. What can we do to ensure Jewish students and faculty are able to successfully advocate for themselves, and how can we support their efforts? On Wednesday, March 17 at 7 p.m., join Federation's Jewish Community Relations Council, ADL Connecticut, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center for a virtual webinar that will answer these questions and more. Ethan Felson and Fred Lawrence, two experts in the field, will discuss the current climate of antisemitism on campus and how we can make a difference. Click here to register.

On March 19 at 7 p.m., Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation invites you to a Zoom Shabbat service led by Rabbi Alana Wasserman. We're a small, warm and welcoming Reform congregation based in Southington - and you can join from anywhere! For the Zoom link, email rabbi@gsjc.org.

Last Saturday, JTConnect teens raised $750 for Sharsheret, an incredible organization that helps women and families impacted by breast cancer. “Sharsheret creates holy spaces for people affected by breast cancer," said teen Kylie Gertner, reflecting on the weekly Torah portion. "By simply being here, you are helping Sharsheret create these holy spaces for those who need them; and you are helping us make our JTConnect community a holy space as well." Click here to read more about the evening. To learn more about JTConnect, email cara@jtconnect.org.

Please join the members of Temple Beth Hillel on Sunday, March 21 at 2 p.m. for a virtual panel discussion about Jewish views on respecting our elders, social/emotional connections, the "Sandwich Generation," and teens' thoughts about their relationships with grandparents. Kindly RSVP to admin@tbhsw.org and we'll send you the Zoom link.

Congregation Beth Israel is thrilled to welcome Joe Kraus, Ph.D., author of "The Kosher Capones: A History of Chicago’s Jewish Gangsters" for a free, virtual program on Sunday, March 21 at 5 p.m. We'll explore the lives and criminal careers of “Zuckie the Bookie" Zuckerman, last of the West Side Jewish bosses, and Lenny Patrick, head of the Syndicate’s “Jewish Wing." It's a fascinating in-depth look inside a hidden society. Kraus is chair of the Department of English & Theatre at the University of Scranton - and his historic look at the mobsters includes his own grandfather and great-uncles, the notorious Miller Brothers of the Jewish West Side. Click here to register.

Passover is one of the most important religious festivals in the Jewish year. This springtime celebration of the Israelites' freedom from Egyptian bondage has inspired Jews down through the centuries, and it still resonates today. Traditionally, we gather with friends and family for the Seder meal that recounts the original story of Passover. It's common to abstain from leavened foods during Passover, as we remember that our ancestors had to leave Egypt so quickly that there was no time for bread to rise. Our community is celebrating Passover in lots of safe and virtual ways this year. Please join us!

RSVP by March 12: Got Passover on your mind? Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Hartford has you covered for Passover-themed projects and fun for families with young children! Through Project Passover, Schechter provides hands-on creative Passover activities for children from birth to age 4, delivered to your doorstep. It's free to participate and all are welcome. RSVP here by Friday, March 12; your activities will be delivered on Tuesday, March 16 or Wednesday, March 17. For more information, email Karen at kshakun@ssds-hartford.org.

March 14: On Sunday, March 14 at 11 a.m., everyone is invited to join Jewish Association for Community Living as we celebrate Passover with a virtual program featuring well-known local Jewish educator Nancy Rosen and professional storyteller Sara deBeer. Our Judaic virtual programs usually last 30 to 40 minutes; this one will include Passover jokes, a trivia quiz, songs and facts with Nancy, a story by Sara, and a discussion about the Seder plate. To register, email beisenberg@jcl-ct.org by Thursday, March 11.

March 20, 27, 28, & 31: Congregation Beth Israel is holding a number of virtual Seders this Passover - and all are free and open to the public! In addition to our Tot Seder on Saturday, March 20 at 10:30 a.m., our Community Seder on Saturday, March 27 at 5 p.m., and our Chocolate Seder on Wednesday, March 31 at 4:30 p.m., we’re holding a special Women's Seder on Sunday, March 28 at 5 p.m. Open to women of all ages, it focuses on the voices and heroism of women and the liberation of all those who are not yet free. Connect, listen and be heard, and see yourself fully in the stories of our people! Click here to learn more and register for any of our Seders.

On Sunday, March 21 at 11 a.m., join B'nai Tikvoh-Sholom for "Partners in Creation: Making Art about What Matters — The Journey from Confinement to Spaciousness" with Rabbi Debra Cantor and art instructor Melinda Wright. Together, we'll reflect on a short Passover teaching and relate it to the challenges, uncertainties, and opportunities of our own time. Then we'll do some creative writing and art with items easily found around the house. Bring a pencil or pen, any kind of paper, and any other art supplies you have on hand (colored pencils, crayons, watercolors, etc.). This program is free and absolutely no experience is needed! Click here to register.

On Sunday, March 21 at 7:30 p.m., Rabbi David Small and Rabbinic Intern Jessica Dell’Era of The Emanuel Synagogue will hold a discussion to help us prepare for Passover. More information will be posted on our website soon. For the Zoom link, email communications@emanuelsynagogue.org or call 860.236.1275.

Camp Laurelwood is thrilled to announce that PJ Library of Greater New Haven, powered our friends at the Jewish Federation of Greater New Haven, will offer a free, interactive JKids Radio Musical Passover (Pre) Seder on Tuesday, March 23 from 6 to 7 p.m.! The 45- to 55-minute virtual program includes an unbelievable lineup of Jewish kids' music artists including Nefesh Mountain, Rabbi Josh Warshawsky, Eliana Light, Shira Kline, Ellen Allard, Rick Recht, Joanie Leeds, and Elana Jagoda. We'll sing traditional and contemporary songs; explore the Seder plate, the blessings, and the Four Questions; and revisit highlights of the Exodus from slavery to freedom. The program is designed for families with children up to age 10, and you'll receive a virtual kit to enhance your family's experience. This event is free; we hope you'll consider a $10 donation to support quality PJ Library programming throughout the year. Click here to register in advance. To learn more, email Kayla Bisbee at kbisbee@jewishnewhaven.org.

Join the Jewish Professionals Network and Federation Women's Philanthropy on Tuesday, March 23 at 6:30 p.m. as we prepare for Passover with a virtual cook-along! Federation's Judy Schlossberg, Jody Angell, and Heather Rubin Fiedler will lead us in making a delicious dairy matzo strata and chocolate macaroons. The recipes and a shopping list are provided. You can pre-shop and cook along with us, or just enjoy a visit from the comfort of your kitchen. Register by March 19; click here for details and registration.

March 26 - April 10: Celebrate Pesach in the Berkshires! Hazon's Isabella Freedman Jewish Retreat Center, located at 116 Johnson Road in Falls Village, Conn., will hold an intimate Passover retreat with social distancing, outdoor davening, and options for outdoor dining. The program is cosponsored by Yeshivat Maharat, with guest educators including Rabbi Dr. Erin Leib Smokler, Rabbi Jeffrey Fox, and others. Capacity is limited; click here to get more information and reserve your spot.

March 28: On Sunday, March 28 at 4 p.m., PJ Library of Greater Hartford will present the JKids Radio Musical Passover Seder! It's similar to the New Haven area PJ Library pre-Seder on March 23 (see above) but for our local community. For the Zoom link, RSVP to jpasternak@mandelljcc.org; we'll send you a digital download of the PJ Library Haggadah and a home activity kit that you can use to enhance your Seder.

March 29: Gishrei Shalom Jewish Congregation will celebrate Passover with a virtual Seder on Monday, March 29 at 6 p.m. Rabbi Alana Wasserman will lead us with joy and lots of music as we celebrate Passover together — safely in our own homes. For the Zoom link, email rabbi@gsjc.org.